This is Feeling a Lot Like 2010

[Everson24]

If you remember back to 2010, we had a very lackluster preseason as far as the starters go. It seems our intent that year was to just get to the regular season healthy. They sat players throughout training camp for even the smallest bumps and bruises. We scaled back practices to keep hitting to a minimum and Jerry got on Wade Phillips for making Jason Hatcher run sprints as punishment after Hatcher pulled a hamstring.

The 2010 Dallas Cowboys were ill prepared to start the season and their lack of physicality showed up early and often. They were also very weak mentally. It's absolutely no wonder we started that season 1-7. It wasn't until Jason Garrett took over in week 9 and immediately started having more padded practices that some of that physicality and toughness started to return. Unfortunately t was too little too late.

Fast forward to this year. We had many starters missing practices from day one. In one preseason game we had 27 players unavailable to play. That is ridiculous. Mo Claiborne once again took zero snaps in preseason. In contrast the Steelers had three consecutive practices in which all 90 players practiced. They started the season with every projected starter playing in the game against Cleveland.

Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones have coddled this team for far too long now. We almost encourage players to be and stay injured. This is totally opposed to the philosophy of Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells,. They knew it was a tough man's sport and weeded them out with tough practices and tough love (remember Parcells referring to Terry Glenn as "she" when asked about an injury to Glenn?).

I believe our starters did not get ample time in live action this preseason (especially Tony Romo) to be adequately prepared for the first quarter of the season, and right now I'm worried that we may see a very similar start to what we saw in 2010.

 

[AsthmaField]

their lack of physicality showed up early and often.

That is one thing that is way different than the 2010 season. This team was very physical on both sides of the ball.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That is one thing that is way different than the 2010 season. This team was very physical on both sides of the ball.

Not too mention the expectations in 2010 were far greater than they are now for most fans.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Where it feels like 2010 to me is that the players just don't seem that much into it. Dez, Murray and some of the young guys trying to stay on the team are into it, but there are many that just come across as having low energy. It's not that they don't care or they are tanking it...but there's a lack of pep in their step as they play.

I got this feeling on the onside kick. Instead of having Bailey drill the ball into the ground and see if we could get the ball on a hop...Garrett and Company try to outsmart everybody and ask Bailey to make a weak little pooch kick. You could see the team was dejected and had that sense of why did we call that? about them.

I think in 2010 the team was coming off the high of the 2009 season and relaxed. And Wade who became more demanding in 2009...went right back to his old ways. I don't think the players hated Wade, but they just didn't fear him and that's how he lost the team.

With Garrett I just think the players feel like the staff puts them in position to fail too often. And it's not a very exciting brand of football. And I'm sure Garrett's unwillingness to get on Romo does not sit well with some of the players on the team.






YR

 

[Everson24]

Where it feels like 2010 to me is that the players just don't seem that much into it. Dez, Murray and some of the young guys trying to stay on the team are into it, but there are many that just come across as having low energy. It's not that they don't care or they are tanking it...but there's a lack of pep in their step as they play.

I got this feeling on the onside kick. Instead of having Bailey drill the ball into the ground and see if we could get the ball on a hop...Garrett and Company try to outsmart everybody and ask Bailey to make a weak little pooch kick. You could see the team was dejected and had that sense of why did we call that? about them.

I think in 2010 the team was coming off the high of the 2009 season and relaxed. And Wade who became more demanding in 2009...went right back to his old ways. I don't think the players hated Wade, but they just didn't fear him and that's how he lost the team.

With Garrett I just think the players feel like the staff puts them in position to fail too often. And it's not a very exciting brand of football. And I'm sure Garrett's unwillingness to get on Romo does not sit well with some of the players on the team.






YR

I agree. Just take a look at the effort to tackle Reid after his INT. It was pathetic to say the least.

 

[AsthmaField]

Where it feels like 2010 to me is that the players just don't seem that much into it. Dez, Murray and some of the young guys trying to stay on the team are into it, but there are many that just come across as having low energy. It's not that they don't care or they are tanking it...but there's a lack of pep in their step as they play.

I got this feeling on the onside kick. Instead of having Bailey drill the ball into the ground and see if we could get the ball on a hop...Garrett and Company try to outsmart everybody and ask Bailey to make a weak little pooch kick. You could see the team was dejected and had that sense of why did we call that? about them.

I think in 2010 the team was coming off the high of the 2009 season and relaxed. And Wade who became more demanding in 2009...went right back to his old ways. I don't think the players hated Wade, but they just didn't fear him and that's how he lost the team.

With Garrett I just think the players feel like the staff puts them in position to fail too often. And it's not a very exciting brand of football. And I'm sure Garrett's unwillingness to get on Romo does not sit well with some of the players on the team.






YR

The team didn't really come across to me that way on Sunday. I'm not saying you're not correct... just that I, for sure, didn't see a lack of effort anywhere. Even when the game got out of hand (which is when you will see so many teams relax and let the blowout get really bad), I still thought I saw good effort on both sides of the ball.

I will pay attention to it this week to see if I notice of any that you said you saw.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

That is one thing that is way different than the 2010 season. This team was very physical on both sides of the ball.

In training camp? This year? Not by the accounts I heard.

And good post, Everson. Some of us have been saying similar things for a while.

One other thing from 2010: That was the year that practices were supposedly going along pretty well when Dez sprained his ankle when Scandrick (who else) was covering him. It turned out not to be serious, but from that day on all the reporters said the practices were dialed back dramatically. Nobody knows for sure, but everyone speculated that Jerry is the one who put in the orders to scale everything back to make sure no one else got hurt.

But certain things about this off-and preseason remind me of 2001-2002. I just hope we aren't looking at a year like that.

 

[CCBoy]

Kind of like attaching the term trailer park trash to a community. Sometimes it hits mark, but sometimes it doesn't

 

[Craig]

If they got fines for too many contact practices like the seahawks did, id be ecstatic. The coach defending super bowl champs isnt resting on his laurels.

 

[AsthmaField]

In training camp? This year? Not by the accounts I heard.

And good post, Everson. Some of us have been saying similar things for a while.

One other thing from 2010: That was the year that practices were supposedly going along pretty well when Dez sprained his ankle when Scandrick (who else) was covering him. It turned out not to be serious, but from that day on all the reporters said the practices were dialed back dramatically. Nobody knows for sure, but everyone speculated that Jerry is the one who put in the orders to scale everything back to make sure no one else got hurt.

But certain things about this off-and preseason remind me of 2001-2002. I just hope we aren't looking at a year like that.

No, I was specifically talking about in game 1 against SF. In the OP he was talking about how the season started out on '09, so that is the direction I went in my mind. I did a poor job of conveying that in my post though and I know that he did also talk about camp in the OP. My bad.

Frankly, I think that none of the 32 teams can even have a physical training camp any more... not with the new collective bargaining agreement.

 

[erod]

To me, it feels nothing like 2010.

That team was old, with a rapidly declining offensive line and a collection of defensive castoffs.

This team is young, and will get better as we go.

 

[cowboyblue22]

if the qb don't get better and in a hurry don't matter what the rest of the team does they are not going to win anyway.

 

[MissouriCowboy]

Dallas needs to understand that JG has to go. His style at best produces mediocre results. A lot of coaches would coach here but sadly the GM is a control freak and cannot grade talent.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

That is one thing that is way different than the 2010 season. This team was very physical on both sides of the ball.

I was gonna say the same thing. It feels nothing like 2010. To Garrett's credit....these guys play hard for him. In that 2010 year..........those guys just gave up. And you would think after going 8-8 consecutive seasons these guys would but to Garrett's credit they are playing for him. I don't think anyone is playing under their potential. As of right now....the story of the season is Tony Romo. The success or lack there of will be dependent on him.

 

[AsthmaField]

I was gonna say the same thing. It feels nothing like 2010. To Garrett's credit....these guys play hard for him. In that 2010 year..........those guys just gave up. And you would think after going 8-8 consecutive seasons these guys would but to Garrett's credit they are playing for him. I don't think anyone is playing under their potential. As of right now....the story of the season is Tony Romo. The success or lack there of will be dependent on him.

Agree. I think the team set out this off season to specifically raise the physical nature of the team, as well as toughness. They picked up guys who played with an edge before. They specifically spoke to Hitchens during his draft day phonecall about bringing that "Iowa toughness" to Dallas with him.

To me it looks like they have definitely upped the physicality of the team.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Dallas needs to understand that JG has to go. His style at best produces mediocre results. A lot of coaches would coach here but sadly the GM is a control freak and cannot grade talent.

I'm of the belief that its not the coach producing mediocre results. How many coaches have left here performing mediocre results just to go on and reinvent their careers? Norv, Rob Ryan, Zimmer.....i'm sure we'll make Garrett the scapegoat but its clear he's not the problem. Or not the sole problem. Its much bigger than him but the problem that exists can't be gotten rid of so we'll continue to use someone as a scapegoat.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Agree. I think the team set out this off season to specifically raise the physical nature of the team, as well as toughness. They picked up guys who played with an edge before. They specifically spoke to Hitchens during his draft day phonecall about bringing that "Iowa toughness" to Dallas with him.

To me it looks like they have definitely upped the physicality of the team.

You're right. And that's what I noticed about the defense. Granted, they got picked a part by Vernon Davis and Boldin. Very discouraging to watch us sit in those zones and let that happen. But there was a certain nastiness out there. McClain and Carter especially. Wilcox and Church as well. Something that I haven't seen consistently from this team.......in a LONG TIME. And offensively its there and starts with our offensive line manhandling the 9ers defensive line.

I know essentially its the same results. We lost. And no, i'm not looking for a moral victory here but this isn't the same exact team. And if we don't win it doesn't matter. But i'll stay tuned on this season. This defense especially. If they're going to continue to play physical....that alone will make up for some of their lack of talent on defense.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I was gonna say the same thing. It feels nothing like 2010. To Garrett's credit....these guys play hard for him. In that 2010 year..........those guys just gave up.

They hadn't given up after one game, though. We lost 13-7 to the Commanders on the last play of the game, a game in which Garrett's offense gave up more points than our defense did.

You're right that the big factor in all this is Romo's back. If it's fine, we should be competitive at least. But Romo got hurt and was out for the year in 2010. Let Romo's back go out again this year and you could see the same thing.

 

[erod]

Dallas needs to understand that JG has to go. His style at best produces mediocre results. A lot of coaches would coach here but sadly the GM is a control freak and cannot grade talent.

You do understand that the next coach will be Linehan, Marinelli, Callahan, or some no-name coordinator around the league.

Jerry will never hire or pay a big name coach again.

 

[jazzcat22]

Carter & McClain played with a lot of energy and physical style.
I think once McClain gets really settled in, that other players, even if already playing at a higher tempo, will play even more physical also.

It will be contagious, especially once they get a few wins in, and if this defense shows steady improvement. after all, they have no where to go but up.

Not even close to 2010. We have younger, hungrier players, ready to make their way to a NFL career, and long good ones too.